The world’s most prestigious music award, The Grammy, over the years, has seen many Nigerians being nominated in various categories but none except Sikiru Adepoju has ever gone home with the award.
You may be wondering who Sikiru Adepoju is, WuzupNigeria’s check will douse your curiosity about the master of the talking drum who remains the only Nigerian to ever win the much coveted Grammy award.
Adepoju and his brothers Saminu and Lasisi were taught drumming at a very early age by their father, Chief Ayanleke Adepoju. They come from a musical family from Eruwa in Oyo State, Nigeria.
Sikiru hails from the traditional lineage of Yoruba talking drummers culturally referred to as Ayan which means “one who has descended from drummers lineage.”
While still in his teens, Sikiru toured with and recorded several albums with the Inter-Reformers Band, the band of one of the pioneers of Afro-beat, Nigerian Juju artist Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey.
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However, he got his two Grammy awards from being part of Mickey Hart’s group, Planet Drum, whose title album won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 1991, the first year there was a Grammy in that category.
He was also part of Mickey Hart’s latest group Global Drum Project, whose title album won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 51st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles 8 February 2009.
In 1985, Adepoju came to America to play with O. J. Ekemode’s Nigerian All-Stars, and three months later met Babatunde Olatunji.
He became an integral part of Olatunji’s Drums of Passion, and through Olatunji met Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.
Adepoju’s current project is entitled “Limbo Rhythm Project”. It features Giovanni Hidalgo, Zakir Hussain, Ian “Inx” Herman, Femi Ojetunde, Peter Fujii, Sola Babatola. and Douglas “Val” Serrant.
